Westmeath Community Development

Volunteer Centres Ireland have recorded a 90% increase in volunteers registering in volunteer centres across the coutry. The increase is due in part to the rise in the number of volunteer centres in Ireland, while some centres have more than three times the volunteers registered with them now than this time last year.

Dr Yvonne McKenna, CEO of Volunteer Centres Ireland said "we are delighted by this report and its testimony to the good work of the local volunteer centres and to the service they are providing".

The service appears to be of particular value to people under 35 who make up more than 68% of registered volunteers. The volunteer centres also attract a high number of non Irish Volunteers, who make up more than one in three of registered volunteers. The main areas of interest expressed by volunteers both Irish and non Irish alike, included youth and children, social work, health and disability, and animals.

More information: www.volunteer.ie